The X Factor UK 2014 saw its 6th set of eliminations tonight. Find out who’s heading home this week below…

(more…)

Echoing this week’s TGJ Replay, today’s From The Vault pick is ‘Soldier’ by iconic-trio Destiny’s Child.

The second offering from the divas’ decade old ‘Destiny Fulfilled‘ LP, and follow up to club banger ‘Lose My Breath‘, ‘Soldier’ was helmed by ‘Crazy In Love‘ maestro Rich Harrison and written by the girls alongside lyricist extraordinaire Sean Garrett.

As a nod to the founding members’ Southern foundation, rappers T.I. and Lil’ Wayne are featured on the track, which at the time helped further cement their reputation as the next-big-things in Hip-Hop.

Like its predecessor, it peaked at #3 on the Billboard’s Hot 100 – as well as its Hot Hip-Hop/R&B – but had even more longevity becoming one of the biggest songs of the following year. It was a worldwide smash too peaking at #4 in the UK and reaching the 3rd position of the charts in Australia.

The Ray Kay directed video saw the trio yet again amping up the divatude, serving glam, grit, grown, and sexy. A black-and-white affair, the clip featured appearances from a heavily-pregnant Solange, Luke James, and Ice Cube and was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award in 2005.

********************

Your thoughts?

Kendrick Lamar brought his ‘i’ video to life in triumphant form this evening on Saturday Night Live.

Backed by a full band, the Compton reared star rocked the house with the Isley Brothers-sampled cut, which serves as the first slice to be lifted from his hotly anticipated sophomore album (due next year).

Watch K.Dot in action below, where a performance of ‘Pay For It’ also awaits…

(more…)

‘Bang Bang’ may still be blazing radio, iTunes, and all else in-between, but Jessie J is already moving on to her next jam.

It was revealed earlier this week that ‘Masterpiece’ will serve as the next single to be released from her third studio album ‘Sweet Talker’.

Wasting no time, the British bred belter shot the song’s accompanying video this week too.

Peep snaps above and below…

(more…)

With anticipation for Nicki Minaj‘s new album, ‘The Pinkprint’, at fever-pitch, the Hip-Pop titan has officially released the set’s latest single ‘Bed Of Lies’.

The cut, which features Skylar Grey, was performed by the star during last week’s MTV Europe Music Awards in Glasgow, Scotland.

How does it sound its recorded, album form? Find out below…

(more…)

Twitter was almost too hot to touch last night as the highly anticipated Lifetime original film ‘Aaliyah: Princess of R&B’ made its premiere – much to the chagrin of fans.

Setting the net ablaze, detractors lent many-a-meme ridiculing the film for its casting, acting, and even musical performances.  The ‘Rock the Boat’ beauty’s fans took special notice to the criticism of her longtime collaborator/friend Timbaland.

Known for being behind the wheel of some of the singer’s most memorable hits, last night saw him behind the wheel of consistent slamming of the network for bringing to light a film many say “should never have been made.”

Did you watch it?  Do you agree?  See it all and weigh in below:

(more…)

The latest series of The X Factor UK continued in fine form tonight. With the Live Show segment of the season in full swing, the hopefuls are tasked on week 6 with pulling out all the stops to progress onto the next week. Judging the contestants are Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Mel B, and  Louis Walsh.

Epic Records are in a celebratory mood.

The L.A Reid helmed label have enjoyed chart success this year with hits from the likes of Fifth Harmony, Meghan Trainor, and A Great Big World – whose ‘Say Something’ featuring Christina Aguilera has sold a whopping four million copies since its release in February.

To round the 2014 on a high, many of the imprint’s banner acts have come together for a new Holiday EP titled ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’.

Set for release on November 24th, the project will notably see Fifth Harmony cover a major Mariah Carey classic.

Details below…

(more…)

Usher may have bumped the release of his new album to an undisclosed date, but that doesn’t mean the crooner isn’t still hard at work on the set.

Indeed, in a new interview with The Guardian in the UK, it’s revealed that he’s lined up an all-star cast to help craft the LP, which has a working title of ‘UR’.

Details below…

(more…)

The queen of Pop was spotted posing it up with billionaire husband Wissam Al Mana At the 5th annual ROTA Gala Charity Dinner in Qatar tonight.

While it’s great to see a happy snap of Ms. Jackson, we wish she’d hurry and quench our thirst for that elusive new album of hers. We’re waiting!

Your thoughts?

Winning must be Shonda Rhimes‘ default mode.

For, that’s exactly what she continues to do week in and week out with the ratings of two of her prime-time properties – ‘Scandal’ and ‘How To Get Away With Murder’.

This week’s offerings of both shows delivered dynamite numbers for ABC.

Find out what the figures below…

(more…)

She may be yet to deliver a music video (or live performance) worthy of her star status, but that hasn’t stopped Nicki Minaj from becoming one of the world’s most celebrated entertainers, hailed by some as one third of a musical “Holy Trinity” completed by Beyonce and Rihanna.

Unfortunately, thanks to moves made by she and her creative team, the rapper finds herself looking more foolish than holy after they released a lyric video for her new single ‘Only‘, filling itto the brim with questionable imagery some critics claim was inspired by Nazi propaganda.

Worsened by the fact that the video was released on the 76th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the clip’s release has earned the chart-topper a new batch of critics all waiting to weigh in on her latest move, even after she claimed the visual had nothing to do with Nazism and apologised to those who believe it does.

The name of one of her new critics? The political commentator that is Glenn Beck…

(more…)